OBJECTIVETo evaluate the transhyoid resection of oropharyngeal anterior wall cancer and oncological outcomes of the surgery combined with radiotherapy.

METHODSA total of 24 cases with carcinoma located in the anterior wall of oropharynx was reviewed. The TNM stages were as follows: T2 in 7 cases, T3 in 2 cases, T4 in 15 cases; NO in 7 cases, N1 in 4 cases, N2 in 12 cases and N3 in 1 case. Tumor resection was performed via transhyoid approach, including 9 cases with partial glossectomy + partial laryngectomy, 7 cases with partial glossectomy + total laryngectomy, 7 cases with total glossectomy + partial laryngectomy and 1 case with partial glossectomy alone pectoralis major myocutaneous flaps were applied to repair synchronously the defects of tongue and lateral pharyngeal wall in 16 cases and the defect of cervical skin in 1 case. Radial forearm free flap and sternohyoid myocutaneous flap were used to repair the defect of tongue and lateral and posterior pharyngeal wall in 1 case. Sternohyoid myocutaneous flap was applied to reconstruct the tongue base in 2 cases. Bilateral and unilateral neck dissections were performed in 20 cases and 4 cases respectively. Five cases received preoperative radiotherapy and 16 cases received postoperative radiotherapy.

RESULTSAll cases had negative surgical margin. Pathological examination showed neck lymph metastasis in 17 cases (70.8%). Three patients had postoperative pharyngocutaneous fistula. Two of them who underwent partial glossectomy + total laryngectomy and pectoralis major myocutaneous flaps synchronously reconstruction suffered from pharyngocutaneous fistula 4 days after operation. The fistula was closed by re-suturation following debridement and 2 weeks dressing change. The other one who underwent partial glossectomy + partial laryngectomy suffered from pharyngocutaneous fistula during postoperation radiotherapy and healed by the pectoralis major myocutaneous repair. Tracheostomy tubes were removed within 1-6 months, with good voice and swallowing functions, in 16 of 17 cases who underwent partial laryngectomy. Another one failed to pull out tracheotomy tube because of dyspnea. Twenty one cases were followed up over 3 years and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed the 3-year overall survival rate was 72.6%.

CONCLUSIONSThe transhyoid tumor resection is an effective surgical approach for oropharyngeal anterior wall cancer. The defect following tumor resection is commonly need repair synchronously with various flaps. Acceptable outcome could be received by surgery combined with radiotherapy.